By DONNY NADEAU
Saint Mary's Sports Information Director
 
GENEVA, Ohio — David Kemper (Woodbury, Minn.) found himself in familiar territory when he took to the track Saturday afternoon.
 
Same event, same venue — same national stage.
 
Two years ago, Kemper made his first NCAA Division III Outdoor National Championships appearance — at SPIRE Institute — placing 12th in the pole vault with a leap of 4.80 meters.
 
Saturday afternoon, Kemper was once back at the SPIRE Institute venue for his second — and final — national championship appearance.
 
And the Cardinal senior made the most of his last opportunity on the national stage, placing 16th in the pole vault with a leap of 4.60 meters.
 
"David had such a great career for us, and for him to close out that career at the national championships is really special," said Saint Mary's coach Niels Anderson. "He was able to move up a few places from where he was seeded — which is always something you want to do as an athlete — and while I'm sure he would have liked to have climbed a few more spots in the overall standings, it was a super way for him to end his four years as a Cardinals.
 
Kemper passed on the opening height of 4.45 meters, before clearing 4.60 meters on his second attempt. That would be all, however, as the Cardinal senior missed all three tries at 4.75 meters to finish 16th.
 
"The conditions were tough today, not the type of conditions we had become used to this spring," said Kemper, noting the warm temperatures and gusty winds made it difficult all afternoon. "This has been such a great experience, and while I'm sad to be done with my collegiate career, I really couldn't ask for a better way for it to come to a close."